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ADHD shared care in Wales: a practical guide

The question most people should ask before paying for a private ADHD assessment is what happens with their GP afterwards. This guide explains how shared care works in Wales, from a Welsh ADHD service.

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By ADH-Me. Last updated 1 November 2026, with health boards' latest Freedom of Information replies.

Shared care by health board

Every health board in Wales has been asked, under the Freedom of Information Act, what happens when someone diagnosed privately asks for NHS prescribing. Here is what each has said so far, checked on 1 November 2026.

6 of 7
health boards have replied to these questions
3 of 7
consider shared care after a private diagnosis, once they have reviewed the report
10 years
Hywel Dda's wait for an NHS specialist review, where one is needed
Hywel Dda: Considered, after reviewCwm Taf Morgannwg: NHS review firstCardiff and Vale: NHS review firstSwansea Bay: Not offeredAneurin Bevan: Considered, after reviewPowys: Awaiting a replyBetsi Cadwaladr: Considered, after review
  • Shared care can be considered after a private diagnosis, once the board has reviewed the report
  • No shared care with private providers: the NHS service reviews the diagnosis first
  • No shared care agreement in place for private diagnoses
  • No published position yet: reply awaited

Hywel Dda

Considered, after review

Adults. Shared care may be considered after a private diagnosis and titration if the diagnostic report meets NHS standards, the titration is fully documented and the GP practice takes part in ADHD shared care. If the board decides a specialist review is needed, the wait is about 10 years.

Children. The board says it has no shared care arrangements for children and young people with ADHD.

10 years
wait for an NHS specialist review, if one is needed
18
private diagnoses awaiting the board’s review (oldest from December 2025)

Source: FOI.21710, 15 October 2026

Aneurin Bevan

Considered, after review

Adults. Shared care can be considered after a private diagnosis, once the adult ADHD service has screened the private report against its quality standards and NICE guidance. If the report falls short, the board asks the provider for more information, or the person may join the assessment waiting list. The board could not give a timeframe.

9,180
adults on the assessment waiting list (29 May 2026)

Source: Ref 9029853, 22 October 2026

Betsi Cadwaladr

Considered, after review

Adults. The board says it does not distinguish between NHS and private diagnoses when considering shared care. Each request is decided case by case: the NHS prescriber must be satisfied with the diagnosis, assessment and treatment, and may offer a pharmacy-led or outpatient review, or further assessment where needed.

Source: Ref 10948793, 22 October 2026

Cwm Taf Morgannwg

NHS review first

Adults. The board does not operate shared care agreements with private providers for ADHD. A private diagnosis is reviewed by the NHS ADHD service before NHS prescribing, through the same waiting list as everyone else. NHS-diagnosed patients can move to shared care with their GP.

4,234
adults on that waiting list (14 May 2026)

Source: CTMUHB_578_26, 16 October 2026

Cardiff and Vale

NHS review first

Adults. Private referrals are added to the NHS adult ADHD waiting list. People already receiving medication from their GP under shared care can be seen in the next available clinic without a full reassessment.

3 years
the board’s stated average adult wait

Source: FoI/26/321, July 2026

Swansea Bay

Not offered

Adults. The board says it does not have a shared care agreement in place for people diagnosed or titrated by a private provider. It has no dedicated adult ADHD pathway: adults go through general mental health outpatient care.

Source: 26-J-007, 30 October 2026

Powys

Awaiting a reply

Adults. Asked on 3 October 2026. The board has said it needs more time and expects to reply by 13 November 2026. For NHS patients, medication is titrated in clinic and moves to shared care once stable.

Source: Request of 3 October 2026

After a private diagnosis in Wales: the three routes

  1. Private diagnosis and titrationYour dose is made stable by the private specialist.
  2. Your GP is asked about shared careWith the report, the titration record and the current dose.
  3. The GP and health board agreeYour GP prescribes on the NHS. Prescriptions are free in Wales; a specialist still reviews you, usually yearly.
    The board wants its own review firstYou join an NHS waiting list. Cwm Taf Morgannwg and Cardiff and Vale always work this way; other boards may ask for it if the private report falls short. In Hywel Dda, a review wait is about 10 years.
    The GP doesn't agree to shared carePrescribing continues privately. With ADH-Me, Ongoing Prescribing is £30 a month, plus the pharmacy's charge for the medicine.

What a private report needs

Aneurin Bevan has published the standards it uses to judge a private adult ADHD report before considering shared care. In summary, the report should cover:

  • The presenting difficulties, and a full psychiatric and neurodevelopmental history
  • Past medical history, to rule out other explanations and anything that would make treatment unsafe
  • A semi-structured clinical interview, not just a checklist or rating scales
  • Which ADHD symptoms are present, how long they have lasted, and how they cause at least moderate impairment in two areas of life, with examples
  • Independent evidence, such as school reports or someone who knew you as a child
  • Consideration of other diagnoses and co-existing conditions

Source: Aneurin Bevan UHB, ref 9029853, 22 October 2026. ADH-Me assessments follow NICE guideline NG87.

Across Wales

Welsh Government has confirmed variation between health boards in adult ADHD services, shared care and the acceptance of private diagnoses. It points to a new all-age Neurodivergence Code of Practice, an Adult ADHD Task and Finish Group working towards a consistent approach, and a draft national ADHD plan.

Source: Welsh Government, ATISN 27577, 23 October 2026

Boards that have not replied yet are shown as awaiting a reply. We update this section when new replies are published.

What shared care is

Shared care is an agreement between a specialist and your GP. The specialist assesses you, starts ADHD medication and adjusts the dose until it is stable. Your GP then takes over the routine prescribing and monitoring. A specialist must still review your ADHD medication regularly:

AgeSpecialist medication review
Under 10Every 3 months
10 to 17Every 6 months
18 and overEvery 12 months, or sooner if clinically needed

Why it matters so much in Wales

NHS prescriptions are free in Wales. While you are on a private prescription, you pay the pharmacy for the medicine, as well as for your private reviews. If your GP takes over under shared care, the medicine becomes free. Over a year or more, that is a significant difference.

GPs are not obliged to agree

Shared care is voluntary. Each GP practice decides whether it is comfortable taking on prescribing, guided by its health board's policy, and the boards differ: see shared care by health board above. Many people only discover this after paying for an assessment.

Before you book any private assessment, including with us: ask your GP practice whether they consider shared care for ADHD medication started by a private specialist, and what they would need to see.

What GPs usually look for

  • A thorough assessment. A diagnosis that follows NICE guideline NG87, with a detailed report, not a quick online checklist.
  • A stable dose. Titration finished by the specialist, so the GP is not starting or adjusting medication.
  • Clear information. A letter setting out the diagnosis, the medication, the dose, the monitoring needed and who to contact.
  • Ongoing specialist support. Someone the GP can come back to, and a regular review.

How ADH-Me handles it

Our assessments follow NG87 and our reports are written with your GP in mind. Our ADHD specialist prescribers complete your titration, so you reach a stable dose before your GP is asked. We then write to your practice with everything they need, and remain available for questions and reviews.

If your GP doesn't agree to shared care, there are still options. You can continue to receive your monthly prescription from ADH-Me for £30 a month, ask your GP again later, or ask for a referral to your health board's NHS service. We will be clear about what each option costs.

A checklist for any private provider

  • Does the assessment follow NICE guideline NG87?
  • Can the clinician prescribe, or will you need to go somewhere else for medication?
  • Is titration included, and how many reviews?
  • Will they write to your GP and support shared care?
  • Do they work with Welsh GP practices, or mainly with England?
  • What will annual reviews cost after shared care starts?

Keep reading

ADHD waits in WalesNHS waits by health board, on an interactive map.Medication titrationStarting medication safely, and prescribing if your GP says no.What an assessment costsPrices in Wales, what should be included, and the costs after.

Common questions

Does my GP have to agree to shared care?

No. Shared care is voluntary. Your GP practice decides whether it is comfortable taking on prescribing and monitoring, guided by its health board policy.

Will my GP accept a private ADHD diagnosis?

It depends on your health board and your practice. Hywel Dda, Aneurin Bevan and Betsi Cadwaladr say shared care can be considered after a private diagnosis once they have reviewed the report. Cwm Taf Morgannwg and Cardiff and Vale review private diagnoses through the NHS waiting list first, and Swansea Bay has no shared care agreement in place for private diagnoses. Ask your practice before you pay for any private assessment.

What happens if my GP doesn't agree to shared care?

You can continue to receive your prescription privately from ADH-Me. Ongoing Prescribing is £30 a month, and the pharmacy charges for the medicine itself. You can also ask your GP to refer you to the NHS service, and you can ask again later. We will help you identify the most affordable option.

Are ADHD prescriptions free in Wales?

NHS prescriptions are free in Wales. If your GP takes over prescribing under shared care, you no longer pay for the medicine. On a private prescription, the pharmacy charges for it.

Do I still need reviews once my GP prescribes?

Yes. Under shared care a specialist still reviews your ADHD medication: every 3 months for children under 10, every 6 months for ages 10 to 17, and every 12 months for adults, or sooner if clinically needed.

Questions about your GP?

We are happy to discuss this with you before you book. Get in touch and we will reply personally.

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